Land has historical, cultural, economic, religious and legal significance. Through history, land has been a symbol of status, social standing, decision-making power and wealth [1] . Land is also a basic source of shelter, food and employment. Access to land can either be defined as an ability to benefit from land or a right to benefit from land [2] .
Land tenure is the term that is used when referring to the system of rights and institutions that govern access to land as well as land use . These rights to land can be distributed in a multitude of ways, including private, communal, open access or state. Privately owned land can be for example in the possession of an individual or a family in a residential area. Communally owned land can be accessible to each individual of the community separately. Open access to land means that no-one is assigned any specific rights to land and that no-one can be excluded from accessing the land. State-owned land is in the possession of a public sector authority, such as the government.
There are also different types of rights, including use rights, transfer rights and control rights. Use rights mean that an individual or organization has the right to use land, transfer rights mean that they have the right to sell or mortgage the land and control rights mean that they have the right to make decisions concerning the land.
Criticism
Some of the prevailing criticisms towards large-scale investments in farmland are related to questions about the ability of the targeted countries to manage the investments while supporting rural development and alleviating inequalities. Recently, some researchers have began to question whether this is the only or even the main criticism in relation to land foreignization. The entire concept of allowing large-scale investors to invest in land is being questioned.[3]
While redistributive land reforms might no longer be compatible with the current political and economic realities, there are many alternative forms of property and use rights that offer policy instruments to alter the conditions of access to land and land use. Land policy interventions can influence who has access to land and under what conditions. Through these mechanisms it is possible to increase efficiency, reduce poverty, enhance sustainability, and achieve a degree of political stability.
Connection to Food
Access to land is closely related to the topic of food security, as the conventional connection between land and food can be represented as a linear framework starting from access to resources. With these resources, food can be produced, generating income. With decent income, food can be purchased for consumption, leading to a nutritional status [4] . Researchers have, however, begun questioning the conventional linear framework and suggest that the relationship between land and food might be more complex.
Competing with the one-way linear perspective of the link between land tenure and food security is an emerging dynamic view that argues that during distressing times in farming communities, families tend to restrict their food intake in order to preserve their key income generating assets (3). Therefore the longterm objective might be to decrease destitution rather than starvation. Access to land is also an important element of food sovereignty.
Securing local small-scale producers access to land is instrumental in ensuring that local farmers have work. Decent work reduces the risk of poverty and hunger. Local producers also tend to use less pesticides, which increases the health and well-being of the community. Many UN programs that support local people's access to land are also concerned with reducing inequalities, also in terms of gender (1).
Corporate Praxis
Research on the evolution of land tenure institutions show that commercialization of agriculture has been a significant driving factor behind privatization and foreignization of land [5] . The global crises in food, energy, environment and finance have driven the reform of land ownership. Transnational and national corporations and governments have purchased land in distant countries in order to serve as sites for food and fuel production. The increase in foreign ownership of land is sometimes called foreignization of land [6] and sometimes simply agricultural investing (6).
Studies show that foreignization of land has taken place largely in countries where buyers could exploit corrupt or indebted governments with little ability to regulate the transaction. Buyers have also targeted the poorest of rural communities, expelling people with non-traditional land titles from their land [7] .
Examples From Finland
One specific case relating to corporate foreignization of land is the 2003 joint venture between Finnish-Swedish Stora Enso, Veracel and Aracruz in Brazil. The three companies were accused by local NGOs and former company employees of destroying rainforests, overcultivating land as well as engaging in corruption [8] .
The controversy over land culminated in a few different aspects of the joint venture. In Brazil, only one percent of the land owners own more than 100 km2 of land. This one percent owns over 45 percent of all arable land in Brazil, while 4.5 million families in Brazil lack land to cultivate. Some sources estimate that additionally, over 62 percent of the total agricultural area is unused.
The distorted distribution of land is amplified by the governmental agricultural policies which support large landholdings whilst restricting small-scale producers with harsh conditions and restricted resources. Small-scale producers also often lacked the appropriate legal documentation of their ownership and were expulsed from their land, as large ranchers forcibly overtook the ownership.
A video comparing large-scale producers to small-scale producers and explaining further why access to land is an important aspect in terms of food security.
1. Land use rights allow you to...
a) Sell or mortgage the land.
b) Use the land. CORRECT
c) Make decisions concerning the land.
There are different types of rights to land, including use rights, transfer rights and control rights. Use rights mean that an individual or organization has the right to use land, transfer rights mean that they have the right to sell or mortgage the land and control rights mean that they have the right to make decisions concerning the land.
2. Land tenure refers to...
a) A system of rights governing access to water.
b) Institutions governing access to land. CORRECT
c) Land owners.
Land tenure is the term that is used when referring to the system of rights and institutions that govern access to land as well as land use . These rights to land can be distributed in a multitude of ways, including private, communal, open access or state. Privately owned land can be for example in the possession of an individual or a family in a residential area. Communally owned land can be accessible to each individual of the community separately. Open access to land means that no-one is assigned any specific rights to land and that no-one can be excluded from accessing the land. State-owned land is in the possession of a public sector authority, such as the government.
^ Ribot, J. and Peluso, N. (2003). A Theory of Access. Rural Sociology 68(2). pp. 153-181.
^ De Schutter, O. (2011). How not to Think of Land-Grabbing: Three Critiques of Large-Scale Investments in Farmland. Journal of Peasant Studies. 38(2) pp. 249-279.
^ Maxwell, D. and Wiebe, K. (1999). Land Tenure and Food Security: Exploring Dynamic Linkages. Development and Change. 30(1) pp. 825-849.
^ Barrows, R. and Roth, M. (1990). Land Tenure and Investment in African Agriculture: Theory and Evidence. Journal of Modern African Studies. 28(2). pp. 265-297
^ Zoomers, A. (2010). Globalization and Foreignization of Space: Seven Processes Driving the Current Global Land Grab. Journal of Peasant Studies. 37(2). pp.429-447
^ World Bank. (2010). Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can it Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits? Washington, DC: World Bank.
^ Kröger, M. and Nylund, J. (2012). The Conflict over Veracel Pulpwood Plantations in Brazil - Application of Ethical Analysis. Forest Policy and Economics. 14(1) pp. 74-82.
Land has historical, cultural, economic, religious and legal significance. Through history, land has been a symbol of status, social standing, decision-making power and wealth [1] . Land is also a basic source of shelter, food and employment. Access to land can either be defined as an ability to benefit from land or a right to benefit from land [2] .
Land tenure is the term that is used when referring to the system of rights and institutions that govern access to land as well as land use . These rights to land can be distributed in a multitude of ways, including private, communal, open access or state. Privately owned land can be for example in the possession of an individual or a family in a residential area. Communally owned land can be accessible to each individual of the community separately. Open access to land means that no-one is assigned any specific rights to land and that no-one can be excluded from accessing the land. State-owned land is in the possession of a public sector authority, such as the government.
There are also different types of rights, including use rights, transfer rights and control rights. Use rights mean that an individual or organization has the right to use land, transfer rights mean that they have the right to sell or mortgage the land and control rights mean that they have the right to make decisions concerning the land.
Criticism
Some of the prevailing criticisms towards large-scale investments in farmland are related to questions about the ability of the targeted countries to manage the investments while supporting rural development and alleviating inequalities. Recently, some researchers have began to question whether this is the only or even the main criticism in relation to land foreignization. The entire concept of allowing large-scale investors to invest in land is being questioned.[3]
While redistributive land reforms might no longer be compatible with the current political and economic realities, there are many alternative forms of property and use rights that offer policy instruments to alter the conditions of access to land and land use. Land policy interventions can influence who has access to land and under what conditions. Through these mechanisms it is possible to increase efficiency, reduce poverty, enhance sustainability, and achieve a degree of political stability.
Connection to Food
Access to land is closely related to the topic of food security, as the conventional connection between land and food can be represented as a linear framework starting from access to resources. With these resources, food can be produced, generating income. With decent income, food can be purchased for consumption, leading to a nutritional status [4] . Researchers have, however, begun questioning the conventional linear framework and suggest that the relationship between land and food might be more complex.
Competing with the one-way linear perspective of the link between land tenure and food security is an emerging dynamic view that argues that during distressing times in farming communities, families tend to restrict their food intake in order to preserve their key income generating assets (3). Therefore the longterm objective might be to decrease destitution rather than starvation. Access to land is also an important element of food sovereignty.
Relation to SDGs
Many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are related to the concept of access to land, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities and Responsible Consumption and Production.
Securing local small-scale producers access to land is instrumental in ensuring that local farmers have work. Decent work reduces the risk of poverty and hunger. Local producers also tend to use less pesticides, which increases the health and well-being of the community. Many UN programs that support local people's access to land are also concerned with reducing inequalities, also in terms of gender (1).
Corporate Praxis
Research on the evolution of land tenure institutions show that commercialization of agriculture has been a significant driving factor behind privatization and foreignization of land [5] . The global crises in food, energy, environment and finance have driven the reform of land ownership. Transnational and national corporations and governments have purchased land in distant countries in order to serve as sites for food and fuel production. The increase in foreign ownership of land is sometimes called foreignization of land [6] and sometimes simply agricultural investing (6).
Studies show that foreignization of land has taken place largely in countries where buyers could exploit corrupt or indebted governments with little ability to regulate the transaction. Buyers have also targeted the poorest of rural communities, expelling people with non-traditional land titles from their land [7] .
Examples From Finland
One specific case relating to corporate foreignization of land is the 2003 joint venture between Finnish-Swedish Stora Enso, Veracel and Aracruz in Brazil. The three companies were accused by local NGOs and former company employees of destroying rainforests, overcultivating land as well as engaging in corruption [8] .
The controversy over land culminated in a few different aspects of the joint venture. In Brazil, only one percent of the land owners own more than 100 km2 of land. This one percent owns over 45 percent of all arable land in Brazil, while 4.5 million families in Brazil lack land to cultivate. Some sources estimate that additionally, over 62 percent of the total agricultural area is unused.
The distorted distribution of land is amplified by the governmental agricultural policies which support large landholdings whilst restricting small-scale producers with harsh conditions and restricted resources. Small-scale producers also often lacked the appropriate legal documentation of their ownership and were expulsed from their land, as large ranchers forcibly overtook the ownership.
A video comparing large-scale producers to small-scale producers and explaining further why access to land is an important aspect in terms of food security.
Open Source Articles
1) Ribot, J. and Peluso, N. (2003). A Theory of Access. Rural Sociology 68(2). pp. 153-181. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jesse_Ribot/publication/229640515_A_Theory_of_Access/links/5512b0960cf20bfdad51c332/A-Theory-of-Access.pdf
2) Barrows, R. and Roth, M. (1990). Land Tenure and Investment in African Agriculture: Theory and Evidence. Journal of Modern African Studies. 28(2). pp. 265-297. Available at: https://landportal.info/sites/landportal.info/files/land_tenure_and_food_security_exploring_dynamic_linkages.pdf
3) Maxwell, D. and Wiebe, K. (1999). Land Tenure and Food Security: Exploring Dynamic Linkages. Development and Change. 30(1) pp. 825-849. Available at: https://landportal.info/sites/landportal.info/files/land_tenure_and_food_security_exploring_dynamic_linkages.pdf
External Links
FAO
Access to Land Network
IFAD
Quiz created by Outi Alk with GoConqr
Answers to the Quiz
1. Land use rights allow you to...
a) Sell or mortgage the land.
b) Use the land. CORRECT
c) Make decisions concerning the land.
There are different types of rights to land, including use rights, transfer rights and control rights. Use rights mean that an individual or organization has the right to use land, transfer rights mean that they have the right to sell or mortgage the land and control rights mean that they have the right to make decisions concerning the land.
2. Land tenure refers to...
a) A system of rights governing access to water.
b) Institutions governing access to land. CORRECT
c) Land owners.
Land tenure is the term that is used when referring to the system of rights and institutions that govern access to land as well as land use . These rights to land can be distributed in a multitude of ways, including private, communal, open access or state. Privately owned land can be for example in the possession of an individual or a family in a residential area. Communally owned land can be accessible to each individual of the community separately. Open access to land means that no-one is assigned any specific rights to land and that no-one can be excluded from accessing the land. State-owned land is in the possession of a public sector authority, such as the government.